Top in-state football prospect Will Shipley picks Clemson

Sammy Batten Staff writer @FO_SammyBatten

Wednesday

May 6, 2020 at 10:57 AM

Losing out on Shipley was a blow for North Carolina’s major in-state programs, all of which had offered him scholarships. It was an especially big loss for N.C. State, where both Shipley’s parents attended and where he was a major recruiting target.

One of the top college football prospects in North Carolina’s senior high school class is heading south to play for a national championship contender.

Running back Will Shipley from Weddington High School in Matthews announced Tuesday in dramatic fashion via a video posted on his Twitter page that he’ll be joining the five-time defending Atlantic Coast Conference champion Clemson Tigers. The versatile 5-foot-11, 198-pounder chose Clemson over a lengthy offer list that included nationally prominent programs such as Florida, Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State and Southern Cal among others.

In addition to their ACC dominance, the Tigers have won two national titles since 2016 and reached the championship game two other times. Those achievements made a big impression on Shipley.

"National champions. Great atmosphere. Everything they do,’’ Shipley told Phil Korblut of the Spartanburg Herald-Journal. "The type of players they generate on and off the field. It’s an awesome place. It’s got everything you can ask for. The people who make up Clemson and the culture, you don’t get that anywhere else.’’

I AM ANNOUNCING MY COMMITMENT TO..... #TYG pic.twitter.com/8yNzXqxJxW

— Will Shipley (@willshipley2021) May 5, 2020

Shipley has been a two-way star at Weddington since his freshman year. He rushed for 2,066 yards and 30 touchdowns, while also catching 34 passes for 582 yards and eight more scores on offense. He also contributed 22 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and interception on defense for a Weddington team that went 16-0 and won the state 3-AA title. Shipley piled up 256 yards and scored four times in a 34-14 state finals victory against Lee County.

15 of Top 25 have already committed

Losing out on Shipley was a blow for North Carolina’s major in-state programs, all of which had offered him scholarships. It was an especially big loss for N.C. State, where both Shipley’s parents attended and where he was a major recruiting target.

Shipley is currently rated the state’s No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2021 by 247Sports.com. He is the 15th player ranked among 247Sports.com’s Top 25 prospects in North Carolina who have already made verbal commitments to college programs.

East Carolina got its 2021 class started last week when it landed a pledge from Sandy Spring, Maryland safety Jalen Clyatt. Clyatt is a two-way start at Sherwood High, playing safety on defense and receiver on offense for coach Tom Crowell.

"He has a real good feel for football,’’ Crowell said. "A lot of people can play football but not understand football. He understands football. He knows his coverages, he knows his body on patterns and stuff. He’s athletically a good player and mentally he’s a good player. He’s a very smart guy.’’

The 6-4, 200-pounder also entertained offers from Kent State, Marshall, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and West Virginia before giving his verbal commitment to ECU on April 30.

Around the state

Wake Forest picked up its seventh and eighth commitments last week with the additions of 6-3, 190-pound wide receiver D.J. Sims from Church View, Virginia, and cornerback Quincy Bryant (6-0, 195) from Lilburn, Georgia. Sims averaged 28.5 yards per reception as a junior at Christchurch School in nine games last season, while Bryant was a Class AAAAAAA North All-State pick by the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association.

Quarterback Andre Goodman from Greenville, South Carolina became Appalachian State’s sixth pledge last week. Goodman is the son of the former NFL receiver of the same name.

Staff writer Sammy Batten can be reached at sbatten@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3534.

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